Dolce & Gabbana has finally responded to weeks of protests in Hong Kong with an official apology. The label says it regrets any offence caused by a controversial photography ban outside its Tsim Sha Tsui boutique.

The store came under fire when it banned Hong Kong residents from snapping photographs of its exterior. However the restriction didn’t seem to extend to tourists, including those traveling from mainland China. The staffers were accused of racism by the locals, who felt the Chinese were given preferential treatment.

Dolce & Gabbana initially issued a statement stating that it rejected any racist or derogatory comments, and felt the company had "not taken part in any action aimed at offending the Hong Kong public."

This didn't satisfy the natives, who continued to protest and cause so much disruption that the store shut down on January 8. Banners encouraged Dolce & Gabbana to "apologize or get out," so it's taken the first option.

"We understand that the events which unfolded in front of the Dolce & Gabbana boutique on Canton Road have offended the citizens of Hong Kong, and for this we are truly sorry and we apologize," the new statement reads. "The Dolce & Gabbana policy is to welcome the Hong Kong people and that of the whole world respecting the rights of each individual and of the local laws."

You've got to question the sincerity of any apology that comes following such protests, but at least Dolce & Gabbana made it. However with the shopping rush that comes with the Chinese New Year approaching, the fashion house didn't have a lot of choice, did it?

[Source: Fashionista]
[Image Source: Ding Yuin Shan/Flickr]

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The fashion firm claims its efforts are an attempt to protect its intellectual property, but The Wall Street Journal claims something more insidious may be going on. It reports that while locals have been stopped from snapping the pictures, foreigners and even Chinese tourists visiting from the mainland have not faced the same restrictions. The Wall Street Journal suggests the photo ban may have come from a Chinese high flyer who didn't want to be seen buying his luxury goods in Hong Kong, where lower taxes are applied.

Apparently Hong Kong natives are particularly sensitive about perceived racism from mainland China, so they haven't taken news of Dolce & Gabbana's measures well. The store has become the scene of protests, but Dolce & Gabbana is holding firm. In an official statement printed in the country's Standard the fashion house states it "has not taken part in any action aiming at offending the Hong Kong public." The country's politicians aren't buying it, and have launched a Facebook campaign urging the Italian company to apologize.

Do you think Dolce & Gabbana has a case to answer?

[Source: Dolce & Gabbana]
[Image Source: K.rol 2007/Flickr]

Dolce & Gabbana Bags on eBay

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Surprisingly the fashion house manages to do it with a material I usually loathe: ponyhair. All too often this material seems out of place, but here it passes for genuine zebra hide. Of course that's not likely to please PETA, especially since Dolce & Gabbana doesn't detail exactly how it sources its ponyhair, but the soft striped fur is striking.

The zebra stripes are bold, but Dolce & Gabbana gets away with them by keeping the Miss Charles' body very simple. We've seen this flap-over style so many times, but the classic animal stripes make the purse feel fresh.

The Miss Charles is slender but spacious, so with some careful packing it should hold everything you need on an evening out. No one buys a clutch purse expecting true functionality, but with its generous dimensions and detachable chain strap the Miss Charles is smarter than most.

At $1808 the Miss Charles is a pricy proposition, but no one expects a Dolce & Gabbana purse to come cheaply. Happily though, this one will look at home with jeans or a little black dress so you'll get some wear from your investment.

More Features of This Dolce & Gabbana Zebra Clutch

• A detachable chain strap with jewel detail
• Measures 5.7 x 11.2 x 1 inches
• Made in Italy

Get this Dolce & Gabbana Miss Charles Handbag:

• Available to buy at Luisaviaroma
• Check TheHomeCollection eBay store to see if this Dolce & Gabbana bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

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• The Diane von Furstenberg Philomena bag, a great alternative to this zebra bag.
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Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are again being investigated for tax evasion after the decision to drop the case was overturned.

You might remember that the designing duo was accused of failing to declare more than $1.1 billion in sales. In April the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence, but recently that decision was overturned by a higher Italian court.

We won't know until January why the case has been overturned, but a legal expert told Women's Wear Daily it's likely "the Supreme Court believes the judge's decision to clear the designers was tainted by a legal flaw, a defective motivation or an error in the application of the law."

On the other hand, if you believe Stefano Gabbana's Twitter comments, it's because the Italian government is a bunch of "Thieves!!! They don't know what to do to get money out of us." Perhaps it'd be smart for him to steer clear of social networking until this case is put to bed.

Dolce and Gabbana allegedly owe around $562 million in back taxes after the sale of Dolce & Gabbana and D&G to the holding company, Gado Srl. The Italian tax police believe this company is simply a legal entity established to avoid corporate tax rates.

If the new judge decides to proceed with the case Dolce and Gabbana may pay a fine to avoid a lengthy court battle and criminal record, undergo a full trial, or take part in a smaller trial using fewer documents and witnesses for a discounted penalty. Either way this holiday season is likely to be a stressful one for Dolce and Gabbana as they await their fates.

[Source: Fashionista]
[Image Source: Lammery/Wikipedia Commons]

Dolce & Gabbana Bags on eBay

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Those in the know say that the two fashion lines were "cannibalizing" each other due to their similar price points. We've seen diffusion lines work best when they're much cheaper, as they put the designer products in the hands of those who can't usually afford them. However D&G was doing great business in Russia and the always reliable Asian markets, so the decision to cut it is still a bit of a shock.

In a joint statement, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana said that the collapse of D&G would give "even more strength and energy" to their future collections. It's expected that they'll also add more categories to their signature range in the coming seasons, so in some way it could be good news for fashion fans.

D&G's spring 2012 range will be its last, so if you're a devotee you'll probably want to snap up a piece when it hits stores soon. Will you miss D&G, or do you think its demise just makes good business sense?

[Source: Fashionista]
[Image Source: Zirguezi/Wikipedia Commons]

D&G Bags on eBay

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It's not that the Miss Escape Star is a bad tote; it's just so pedestrian. White stars against an inky black patent background make sense on paper, but in reality they appear kind of dull and a little bit childish. The tassels appear really out of place too, so I'm left feeling confused about the style statement Dolce & Gabbana is making.

Not even the interior can redeem this purse. The open top design makes accessing your precious cargo easy, but it also compromises security. We also don't get the leather trim around the pockets that we expect from a high-end designer purchase. They're little touches, but they're the additions that help to sway us to part with our cash.

This is far from one of Dolce & Gabbana's best efforts, yet it's still charging us top dollar for it. $1222 is simply too much to pay for such a half-baked tote, no matter what its designer pedigree.

More Features of This Dolce & Gabbana Star Decorated Tote

• An embossed gold and silver-toned logo plate
• Made in Italy

Get this Dolce & Gabbana Miss Escape Handbag:

• Available to buy at Nordstrom
• Search online for this bag

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You see, leopard print can be kind of tacky. Done wrong, it looks more "tarts boudoir" than "exotic luxury," and it just isn't good. However, when a label like Dolce & Gabbana turn its hands to it, you see why this pattern and print is so intensely popular, why it never manages to go out of fashion. It is, you see, complex and rich and utterly luxurious, as one glance at the Lory clutch will tell you.

I particularly like that the Lory isn't made in the seemingly compulsory haircalf. Instead, it lets the print deliver the texture, and keeps the fabric plain and simple, with a nice fur pattern. This lets the bold box shape do the talking, especially when accompanied with the cool (but kind of pointless) gold spheres on the zip, and of course the thick gold zip itself.

The Lory purse may be quite beautiful and it may have attitude, but I am not sure there is anything remarkable enough about it to justify the $995 price tag. What do you reckon?

More Features of this Dolce & Gabbana Lory Box Clutch:

• Leopard print fabric exterior
• Thick wrap around zip
• Gold balls zip accessory

Get this Luxury Leopard Print Purse:

• Available to buy on Amazon
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The classic satchel shape and ornate medallions take their cues from vintage fashion, but the use of modern black lace and complementary leather gives the Miss Rose an appealing edge. I can't help thinking of retro Madonna when I see black lace like this. It's been a few decades since the Queen of Pop pulled on her fingerless gloves, but the contrast of black lace is every bit as shocking today as it was back then. This edgy lace works so well with that dangerous black leather. This is one satchel that's a little bit naughty and a little bit nice.

The short handle suits the Miss Rose's vintage look, but it's not entirely practical. This is a large satchel, so it'll become awkward to carry if you're utilizing all that space. Thankfully Dolce & Gabbana has thought of that and provided a longer shoulder strap. This strap is wide and made of soft leather, so it'll feel comfortable to carry even when the Miss Rose is loaded up.

I never expect to find Dolce & Gabbana bags at bargain basement prices, so I'm not entirely surprised that the Miss Rose costs a whopping $2275. This is definitely one for the wish list.

More Features of This Dolce & Gabbana Lace Satchel

• Zippered flap closure with a magnetic snap
• Metal feet on the base
• A single handle with a 5 inch drop
• A shoulder strap with a 9.5 inch drop
• Measures 14.25 x 11.25 x 6.5 inches
• Made in Italy

Get this Dolce & Gabbana Miss Rose Handbag:

• Available to buy at Nordstrom
• Search online for this bag

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• The Imoshion Diana satchel bag, a great alternative to this lace bag.
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You might remember me writing in November about the charges, which alleged that the Italian designers had each moved $569 million to a Luxembourg holding company to avoid paying tax between 2004 and 2006. However it took the judge just four and a half hours yesterday to decide the D&G head honchos had no case to answer for.

Understandably Giuseppe Bana, the lawyer for the designing duo's accountant Luciano Patelli, said he was "very pleased" with the decision. He added that the judge prevented what was an unnecessary investigation from going too far.

I'm sure that Dolce and Gabbana themselves are also feeling pretty relieved right now. Those figures were astronomical and forecasters predicted they'd have to pay a $1 billion fine if they were found guilty. Even if they were found innocent, the bad publicity from a lengthy legal trial wouldn't have helped the Dolce & Gabbana brand any.

Thankfully now the Italian creative team can get back to what they do best and focus on designing those handbags and couture items for the next season's collections!

[Source: Vogue UK]
[Image Source: Michael Gray/Flickr]

Dolce & Gabbana Handbags on eBay

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100 Dolce Gabbana Leopard Pony Hair Handbag Leather Canvas WOW NO RESERVE US $735.00   Auction Ends: 1h 31m Make it yours...

There isn't anything subtle about this Twist satchel. Apart from the vast expanse of fur, you have a swathe of  soft, crinkled leather. Everything is about decadence, luxury, and making a fashion impact in the most obvious and expensive way possible. I don't just mean expensive looking, by the way; this satchel costs in the region of $1700. Ouch.

Away from the design you actually have a very practical bag. The "Three-Zip" part of the name applies to the three big center compartments, which are ideal for storing lots of belongings and toting around everything you need. At least this is sensible!

It certainly won't be for everyone, but if this is your type of handbag it is no doubt one of the most luxurious options out there.

More Features of this D&G Three-Zip Lily Twist Satchel

• Coyote fur and leather exterior
• Detachable long strap
• D&G tag accessory
• Multiple interior compartments and pockets

Get this Luxury Fur Tote:

• Available to buy on Amazon
• Search online for this bag

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